Real Madrid will face FC Barcelona on Sunday night at the Santiago Bernabeu, looking to bounce back in another big game after falling 2-1 to Manchester City in front of their home fans on Wednesday.
Madridistas are undoubtedly highly disappointed with the way their team have played over the last three games. After an excellent month of January in which they won every match, including the Spanish Supercup, Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Celta Vigo, lost 1-0 to Levante, and then imploded in the final 15 minutes of their first Champions League knockout stage game against Manchester City.
On Sunday, Real Madrid must defend the Santiago Bernabeu against FC Barcelona, whom they drew 0-0 in mid-December at Camp Nou despite outplaying. That match started Karim Benzema‘s downturn in goal production, and Los Blancos have struggled to put away their chances in 2020.
Here are five players who must shine on Sunday in order for Real to win this title-deciding matchup against La Blaugrana.
CB Sergio Ramos
The Real Madrid captain was red carded against Manchester City, and he was blamed by some for allowing Gabriel Jesus to score a header in the six-yard box. Others thought the red was harsh and that Jesus pushed Ramos on the earlier goal. Regardless, Ramos will be starting alongside Raphael Varane on Sunday, and he’ll need to play significantly better than he did against City.
Ramos was one of the standouts in the 2019-2020 season’s first Clasico, making a goal-saving clearance to deny Lionel Messi and La Blaugrana. Without Ramos, Real Madrid may have lost the game, and they will need his leadership on both ends of the pitch to shine through.